Travel Insurance: Everything you Need to Know

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Peace of Mind – Traveling the World with Travel Insurance

As smart travelers, we know that things can go wrong at any time during our trip. Flights can be canceled, accidents can occur, theft and stolen equipment, etc. The thought of all of this can put a dark cloud over the days when you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself the most. This is the reason that thousands and thousands of travelers from all over the world opt to get travel insurance.

Travel Insurance is one of those things that it’s better to have it, and not need it than to need it and not have it. But the question is what is travel insurance? Do I need travel insurance? How do I know what travel insurance to buy? Why pay for travel insurance?

Photo by Anete Lūsiņa on Unsplash

You have probably heard of travel insurance when booking a flight or a cruise. These are insurances directly from a company that only covers their specific services. However, did you know that there are companies entirely dedicated to covering every aspect of your travels? Travel Insurance is something many travelers go without and they seem to get by just fine. So, why should you get it?

If travel insurance is the question, then the peace of mind is the answer. The thought of adding extra costs to your already expensive itinerary is what keeps travelers from getting travel insurance 9 times out of 10. However, the headaches that come when things are just not going your way can be lessened by knowing that someone has your back. In this case, your travel insurance provider.

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

What is travel insurance?

To put it simply, travel insurance providers make their money by counting on everything going right with your vacation. It is intended to cover almost every aspect of your travel so you can focus on making the most out of your time abroad.

So… what’s covered?

The number of claims covered with travel insurance is mind-boggling. You can count on being covered for almost every stress-related thing you can think of. Emergencies, trip cancellations, baggage loss or delay, and accidental deaths can all be included. Nevertheless, just because something is covered by one insurance, does not mean that other insurances will cover it also. Also, just like home and car insurance, some insurance companies charge a premium for optimal coverage, so that lower price you see may not include your claim. Always make sure to read through the list of what’s covered before choosing a provider. Some of the most commonly covered claims are:

Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expense

Accidents can happen at any time regardless of whether you’re at home or away. Medical treatment for accidents can be costly, especially when you’re in a country where your medical insurance is not valid. Most travel insurances recognize that this is the number one reason most people even begin to search for protection, and for this reason, many of them will offer a package you cannot resist.

Some smart travelers can get adventurous with their food, if not, what would be the point of traveling? However, it is difficult for many countries to regulate restaurants and food vendors, so that fishy-smelling burger you had can cost you a night at the local hospital, which will put a dent not only in your vacation but also your wallet.

Trip Cancellation

To get the best deals, smart travelers always opt to book months in advance. However, no one is able to predict the future, and every year many people find themselves in a situation where they have to cancel all their travel plans without getting any of their hard-earned cash back. Many travel insurance providers cover the most frequent reasons why travelers find themselves in these situations. Some of these are sickness, accidental injury, or death of you, a family member or traveling companion; inclement weather, or an unforeseen natural disaster at home or at your destination.

Baggage and Personal Effects

For many travelers, vacationing is more than just a hobby, it’s a passion. These travelers will purchase costly equipment which they’ll need to fully capture the beauty of the places and cultures they visit. Most companies offer the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your camera, computer, tablet, or even drone, are fully covered in case of theft or damage caused during your travels. Same goes for your baggage. In the unfortunate case that your luggage gets lost or stolen, many policies will have your back and cover the expenses to replace the items.

Baggage Delay

Have you ever had the misfortune of waiting by the luggage carousel…and waiting…and waiting? Everyone is gone and you’re still waiting for your bag? You’re not alone. Baggage delay is very common, and sometimes they’ll arrive the same day, but sometimes it will take longer. If you find yourself in a position where you’ll need to purchase extra items of clothing while waiting for your bags, then check with your travel insurance, there’s a chance that you can get reimbursed for the money spent.

Accidental Death/ Dismemberment

Here’s the one I hope no one ever needs travel insurance for. If during your trip, you, or a covered companion suffer a travel-related illness that causes immediate death (or prolonged to even after you return home), you or your family may be eligible to receive compensation. The same for dismemberment, if a travel-related event results in loss of one of your limbs, then you may qualify for payment.

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

What does it cost?

Like with any other type of insurance, the cost depends on many factors. These include the destination, the number of days, how you’re getting there, and what you’re planning on doing there. This information is essential since certain countries are less safe than others, which means there’s a higher chance of something going wrong at a specific destination.

During my research, I used a quote from a future trip to Paris for five days using World Nomads, which is underwritten by Nationwide Insurance. After filling out some basic information, including country of residence and destination, I was quoted for $98.90 ($61.28 for their basic plan), a pretty reasonable price for having a reassurance that you and your investment is protected. Quotes from other insurances ranged from as little as $59 to the most expensive, $328.

However, when researching insurance, make sure that the company you ultimately decide on works for you, not for someone else that came up with a list. Be diligent and investigate all aspects of it, and again, be hyper-aware of the difference between the base price and the premiums to prevent unpleasant surprises.

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Contest Official Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Void where prohibited by law. Subject to all federal, state and local laws. Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. US Eastern Time (“ET”) on 5/8/2018 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on 7/31/2018. (the “Contest Period”). Sponsor’s computer is the official time keeping device for this Contest.

1. Eligibility: The Tiplr’s Best Travel Tip Award (the “Contest”) is open to all the users of the digital platform Tiplr who are 21 years of age or older as of time of entry. Employees, officers, and directors of Tiplr, Inc., and any of their respective parents, subsidiaries, divisions, affiliated companies, dealers, sales representatives, licensees, service agencies, independent contractors, advertising and promotion agencies, web hosting and service and fulfillment providers (all of the foregoing, collectively, “Contest Entities”), and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses) and those living in the same household of each (whether legally related or not), are ineligible to enter or win the Contest. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and to Sponsor’s decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Winning the prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. Sponsor reserves the right to verify the eligibility of the Grand Prize winner.

3. How to Enter: There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to participate. A purchase does not increase your chances of winning. There is one (1) way to enter the Contest:

Via microsite: To enter, visit https://tiplr.co/award, complete all required fields of the onscreen registration form and follow the instructions to receive one (1) entry into the Contest. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on 7/31/2018 to be included in the Best Travel Tip contest.

By entering, you agree to receive emails and join the newsletter lists of Sponsor. No information regarding entries, other than as otherwise set forth in these Official Rules, will be disclosed. Limit one (1) entry per person/email address per method of entry. Any attempt by any entrant to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods will void such entries and that entrant may be disqualified. Use of any automated or computer system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. Normal Internet access and usage charges imposed by your online service may apply. If entering via mobile device, normal phone/data and usage charges imposed by your phone service may apply. Standard data rates may apply if entering via mobile device.

Incomplete, corrupted, or untimely entries are void and will be disqualified. Sponsor and its agencies are not responsible for late, illegible, incomplete, or misdirected entries; lost, interrupted, or unavailable network, server, or other connections; or miscommunications, computer or software malfunctions, telephone transmission problems, technical failures, garbled transmissions, damage to a user’s computer equipment (software or hardware), or other errors or malfunctions of any kind, whether human, mechanical, electronic or otherwise. Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, Internet service provider, or other organization (which may include an employer) responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Potential Grand Prize Winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder. Entries specifying an invalid, non-working, or inactive email address will be disqualified and ineligible to win.

4. Selection of Grand Prize Winner and Winner Notification: One (1) Grand Prize Winner (“Grand Prize Winner”) will be assigned to the “Best Travel Tip” created on the platform Tiplr (website or iOS app) and the winner will be defined on writing and other skills basis by a panel of judges selected by Sponsor and communicate via email or web channels before the end of 2018 . The potential Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the Travel tips submitted by contest participants on Tiplr during the Contest Period. The potential Grand Prize Winner will be notified via e-mail to the e-mail address provided on the contest entry form. Potential Grand Prize Winner must respond to the email within 48 hours of notification attempt or prize will be forfeited and an alternate Grand Prize Winner will be selected and notified. Once the potential winner has responded, Sponsor will send, via email, an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release which must be executed and returned within 5 days. The contest will be conducted by Sponsor, whose decisions on all matters relating to the Contest shall be final and binding. At the sole discretion of the Sponsor, disqualification, forfeiture and the selection of an alternate Grand Prize Winner may result from any of the following: (1) a potential Grand Prize Winner’s failure to respond to any email notification by the deadline stated within the notification; (2) the return of an email notification as undeliverable after three (3) attempts; (3) potential Grand Prize Winner’s failure to provide Sponsor with satisfactory proof of age, identity and residency; (4) potential Grand Prize Winner’s failure to confirm address and validly claim the prize by the deadline stated within the notification; (5) the potential Grand Prize Winner’s failure to execute and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Liability/Publicity Release by the deadline stated within the notification; and (6) any other non-compliance with the Official Rules. In the event of prize forfeiture, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, award or not award the forfeited prize to an alternate Grand Prize Winner. Prize will be awarded, provided that it is validly claimed within a week from the announcement, after which no alternate Grand Prize Winner will be selected, nor will an unclaimed prize be awarded. Potential Grand Prize Winner is subject to verification by Sponsor, whose decisions are final and BINDING IN ALL MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONTEST. An entrant is not the Grand Prize Winner of the prize unless and until entrant’s eligibility has been verified and entrant has been notified that verification is complete.

Tip’s Creation Guidelines

Tips must be in English (Quality of English will be evaluated and any tips in another language will not be accepted)Each tip must be at least 150 wordsTopic of tip must be travelEach entrant must create at least 10 tips using their Tiplr account (But there is no limit to the number of tips created)Each tip must have a good quality photo (When using the website, photos should be at least 800 pixels in width)Best Tip’s Evaluation Criteria

Quality of text (i.e. well-written, in fluent English, unique/original, off the beaten path, avoids mainstream travel topics, etc.)Authenticity of information provided“Smartness” of tipTitle catchinessPicture qualityAbility to select the proper category and location for each tip

5. Grand Prize is a Gift card valued at $1,000 (USD) and it will be delivered to the winner via regular mail or digitally.

Prize Restrictions: Prize cannot be substituted, assigned, transferred, or redeemed for cash; however, Sponsor reserves the right to make equivalent prize substitution at its sole discretion if any advertised prize (or portion of prize) becomes unavailable. Grand Prize Winner is responsible for any loss of prize or portion of prize after it has been delivered. Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen prize. Any and all applicable federal, state, and local taxes and all fees and expenses related to acceptance and use of prize not specifically stated herein are the sole responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner.

6. General Conditions: By entering or participating in the Contest, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Contest Entities are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information or technical failures of any kind, (2) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; or (3) any other computer, network, technical, human or other error, problem or malfunction that may occur in connection with the administration of the Contest, the processing of entries, or the selection or notification of Grand Prize winner. Further, if, for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned for reasons outside the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of Sponsor, may corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Contest (or portion thereof), Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest (or portion thereof) and in the event of cancellation, the prize will be awarded in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received prior to cancellation. Sponsor also reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify the entry of any individual found to be (a) tampering or attempting to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or any website operated by the Contest Entities; (b) using any robotic, macro, automatic, programmed or like entry methods, which will void all such entries; (c) violating these Official Rules or the terms of service, conditions of use, and/or general rules of any Sponsor property or service; or (d) acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person. Contest Entities are not responsible for claims, injuries, losses or damages of any kind resulting, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from the awarding, delivery, acceptance, use, misuse, possession, loss or misdirection of the prize; participation in this Contest or in any activity or travel related thereto or from any interaction with, or downloading of, computer Contest information.

7. Release and Limitations of Liability: By entering, each entrant agrees to defend, indemnify, release and hold harmless Contest Entities from and against any and all losses, demands, damages, rights, claims, actions and liabilities of any kind arising out of or related to (i) entrant’s participation in the Contest or (ii) entrant’s participation in any prize-related activities (including, without limitation, any property loss, damage, personal injury or death caused to any person(s). The Grand Prize Winner and travel companion(s) assume all liability for any injury, death, or damage caused, or allegedly caused, by participating in this Contest or use or redemption of the prize. Any disputes that may arise hereunder shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of laws principles of any jurisdiction. Venue with respect to any such disputes shall be had in the state and federal courts of the State of New York. All taxes are the responsibility of the Grand Prize Winner, who may receive an IRS Form 1099 reflecting the final actual value of the prize, if applicable.

Entrants, by participating, agree that the Contest Entities, and all of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against, any liability, for any injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including death, to persons, or property resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a prize or participation in this Contest.

8. Publicity. As a condition of entry into the Contest, except where prohibited by law, each entrant and potential Grand Prize Winner by accepting the prize grants to the Contest Entities, a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license and right, to publicize, broadcast, display and/or otherwise use the Contest entrant’s name, city, state, biographical material and Instagram handle in any media now known or hereafter devised throughout the world in perpetuity for advertising and publicity purposes, without additional review, compensation, permission or approval of Grand Prize Winner.

9. Disputes: Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the District of New York or the appropriate State Court located in New York; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and entrant hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

11. Official Rules and Winner List: To obtain a copy of these Official Rules or for Grand Prize Winner list requests, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: “Tiplr, Inc. 195 Plymouth St. Brooklyn, NY 11201”. Requests for Grand Prize Winner lists must be received no later than three months after the end of the Contest Period.

The information you provide will only be used in connection with this Contest or in connection with promotional or other activities of Tiplr, Inc.

The Tiplr Travel Groups on Facebook

The community of smart travelers is real and ready to help you travel smart. We are active on several specific Facebook groups. Join us now yo get direct travel tips about the most exciting destinations

Oh there you are!

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If you previously created your Tiplr account using Instagram, we kindly request that you change your login access using one of the options below, in order to keep using your Tiplr account with all of your data and tips. Thanks!